Infantry training, 1905

by Great Britain. War Office

The following form will be observed when a guard is visited by the field officer or captain of the day, termed grand or visiting rounds:—

On their approach the sentry at or near the guard-room door will challenge: Halt; who comes there? The officer will reply, GRAND (or VISITING) ROUNDS; the sentry will then call: Guard—turn out. The guard will fall in with bayonets fixed and arms sloped, and, if there is no countersign, the commander will call out: Advance, grand (or visiting) rounds; All’s well; to grand rounds he will present; to visiting rounds he will remain at the slope.

If there is a countersign to be given, a corporal or serjeant with a flank file of the guard will double out, and when about ten paces from the rounds will order the file to halt; bring them to the Engage, and will then repeat the challenge: Who comes there? The reply will again be, GRAND (or VISITING) ROUNDS; the non-commissioned officer calling: Stand, grand (or visiting) rounds. Advance one and give the countersign. Rounds will then in a low voice give the countersign, which the non-commissioned officer alone will carry, in double time, for verification to the commander of the guard. If correct the commander of the guard will call out, Advance, grand (or visiting) rounds. All’s well. The file will then double back to the guard, and rounds will advance to the guard, which will present arms to grand rounds.

206. Guards of Honour.

Whenever a guard of honour forms up the commander will be three paces in front of the second file from the right, or, in a confined space, from the flank by which the personage for whom the guard is mounted will approach, the officer carrying the Colour three paces in front of the centre; if there is a third officer he will be three paces in front of the second file from the other flank. When the guard is inspected, the commander will invariably accompany the personage for whom it is mounted, walking next to him round the ranks.

207. Trooping the Colour.

1. At the hour appointed for this ceremony, points will be placed for marching past, and the guards composed of companies of the necessary number and strength, formed into line facing the saluting base, with unfixed bayonets, by the adjutant of the day.

2. The senior serjeant with each guard will take command of it, posted on the right of the front rank. The Colour will be placed at a distance of about two guards in front of the left of the line, in charge of a serjeant and a double sentry. The beat of these sentries will be at right angles to the line, with their front inwards; they will be posted at three paces right and left of the Colour, and act with the men in the line. The serjeant and sentries will be taken from the right guard, and the latter will be its right file. The sentries turn outwards at three paces from the Colour and inwards at ten paces from it, working together, the time being taken from the front rank man of the file, who will be on the right. They resume their places with the right guard, while it is forming to the left after receiving the Colour, as will be described hereafter.

3. The band will be formed in front of the right of the line, facing the Colour. The drums will be drawn up in front of the Colour, turned towards the band.

4. The adjutant will order the guards to slope arms, and the duties will be handed over by him to the brigade major. The adjutant will then take post on the left of the line.